Stretching machine for stockings



g 4, 1- w. H;. GOSCH I 1,817,617

STRETCHING MAdHI E FOR STOCKINGS i Filed April .2, 1929 Jim. 2.

- 35 way Patented Aug. 4, 1931 WILLIAM H. soson, or READING, rnnnsxtvanin,

ASSIGNOR rv THE nouns Ann HORST COMPANY, OF READING, PENNSYLVANTA, A GORPORATIQN OF PENNSYL- VANIA srnnrcnme MACHINE FOR s'rocxines" Application filed April 2, 1929. Serial No. 351,927.

My invention relates to improvements in fabric-stretching mechanism; the main object being to provide for quickly and satisfactorily subjecting stockings to uniform stretching action with clear indication of the resulting stretching effect, for the purpose of determining as to required elasticity.

The invention is fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and 10 the novel features are clearly defined in the subjoined claims. 7

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a machine embodying my invention; the view indicating, in dot-and-dash lines, the welt portion of a stocking as applied for stretching to rearwardly extending forms, by an oppositely positioned operator.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view.

The suitably supported table-top is provided as shown with fixed end posts 11 and 12; between which extend a fixed guide bar 13 for a longitudinally movable form carrier 15. This carrier 15 is movable rela- .15 tive to the end post 12 so as to vary the spread of the paired forms 16 and 17 fixed respectively to the movable carrier 15 and said post 12. The oppositely extending flexible connections 20, 21 to the carrier 15,

o pass over end pulleys 22, 23 to operating means ments.

As shown, the depending portion of the movable carrier is slidable in a table guide 24; and its normal positioning relative to the form-carrier post 11, as determined by the desired minimum spread of the forms 16 and 17, is fixed by any suitable latch mechanism as indicated at 25, 26. To profor effecting the reverse carrier move- .40 vide for measuring and clearly indicating to the operator, the different stretching effects produced by the uniform stretching strains put upon the diiferent form-engaged stockings, a graduated measuring stick or rod 28 45 is fixedly secured to one of the forms 16 or 17 so as to overlie the relatively movable form; thus clearly indicating to the opera tor any lack of proper elasticity in the tested fabrics.

50 In exerting stretching action upon a stocking which is looselyengaged by the opera-.

tor upon the normally positioned forms 16.,

17 as indicated by the welt showing 29, I have foundit to be practically important that such action should be automatically effected quickly with a. definitely limit-ed'final strain upon the fabric; and that thisre quires elimination of any force ofmomen tum such as is commonly incidentto ecos nomie quickness of operation. v

The use of a weighted lever, as. indicated at 3031, to effect the required'stretching movement of the movable form-carrier 15., seems to provide in a simple way for both the desired quick action and uniform stretching strain; but I have found that the free movement. of this lever which is permitted by the initial looseness of a form eng aged stocking, develops a force of momentum which results in a final hammer-like action upon the fabric, after the latter has been sufficientlytightened upon the forms tov substantially resist the s reading movement of the carrier; thus Ob]GOlIlOI1&blY subjecting the fabric. not only to an undesired "strain, butto a more or less unequal strain depend+ ing upon the momentum acquired by the greater or less practically free movement of the lever and carrier as permitted by natural differences in the knitted fabrics Recognizing that practically unsatisfactory results were therefore necessarily incident to the use of the simple weighted lever for imparting stretching movement to the formcarrier, I have provided for avoiding the development of momentum by employing Stretching means in connection with the weighted lever for controlling the swing of the latter; such means comprising, as indicated, a check mechanism such as is commonly employed in connection with door closers to slow-down a spring-actuated clos- Ing movement. of the weighted lever shown is arranged to be rotated by swinging movement of the latter so as to operate in'well known manner, an hydraulically controlled piston in the check cylinder 36;. so that well understood ordinary adjustment of the checking action will insure properly controlled swing To this end the pivot pin of the lever, with avoidance of momentum a Weighted lever operatively connected to and resulting undue strain upon the fabric.

When the required stretching action has been effected on the form-engaged fabric 29, the movable carrier will be in intermediate longitudinal position on the table-top as indicated in Fig. 1. To release the welt the movable carrier is drawn towards the fixed form-carrier post 11 as by means of a connected treadle 40; until it is automatically secured in inoperative normal position by latch device 25-26, so as to be ready for application of another fabric to the forms 16 and 17. When a new fabric has been so applied, the latch 25 is conveniently released by the operator, and the carrier 15 is immediately moved automatically by the check-controlled weighted lever so as to repeat the stretching operation with a rapid but uniform final application of the weightlever force; thus insuring that successive fabrics are subjected to equal gradually applied stretching strains, and that the different resulting sizes shown by the spreadme-asuring rod 28 will accurately determine as to required elasticity. The preferred mechanism specifically set forth may be modified without departing from my invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A stretching machine comprising a table-top having fixed end posts one of which carries a fixed fabric-form, a guide bar extending between said posts, a movable form carrier guided upon said bar, flexible connections to said movable carrier extending in reverse directions over guide pulleys at opposite-end portions of the table, a weighted lever operatively attached to one of said flexible connections, a movement controlling check device for said lever, a carrier-returning lever operatively connected to the otherfiexible connection, and latching means for holding the returned carrier.

2. A stretch measuring machine for tubular fabrics comprising a fixed carrier having a fabric engaging form, a guided movable carrier having a cooperating fabric engaging form, a weighted lever operative upon said movable carrier to normally move the latter away from said fixed carrier, a movement controlling check device for said lever adapted to effect a slow spreading movement of said lever operated carrier under uniform stress, a rule mounted on one carrier for measuring the effected spread of said fabric forms, and an operative lever for returning said movable carrier to normal posit-ion.

3. A stretch measuring machine for tubular fabrics comprising a table having a guideqvay, a fixed post at one end of the latter having a fabric-engaging form, a post movably mounted in said guide-way and having a cooperating fabric-engaging form,

said movable post and adapted to move it away from said fixed post, a movement controlling check device for said lever adapted to effect a slow spreading movement of said post carried forms, an operative lever for returning said movable post to normal position, and a scaled rule for measuring the effected spread of said forms. 7 V

In testimony whereofI affix my si nature.

WILLIAM H. Go soH. 

